The Salem Lamplighter

September, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 9 E-Mail: salem1809@att.net Website: www.salemsbc.org (314) 921-5507

























Missions
Carmen Hook and Carl Barrow
We are getting closer to Christmas and have several mission opportunities coming up. These include: MMO,
Lottie Moon, Angel Tree, Operation Christmas Child. There is a list on the bulletin board of items that are needed for
the Operation Christmas Child boxes and each member can sign up for an item to bring. Our goal is to complete 25
boxes. If you are going to buy an item needed mark your name on the list and how many of the item(s) you will
purchase. The gifts should be unwrapped and it needs to be brought in before December 9
th
and placed in the
designated bin.

There is always an interesting dynamic whenever an interim pastor serves the same church twice. On one
hand there is an immediate sense of the familiar most of you know Twila and me and we know most of you. You
have some idea what to expect from my ministry and I have some idea what to expect from Salem Baptist Church.
On the other hand, both of us has changed over the past several years and we understand that I cannot do and
say the same things this time around (although I am probably being too optimistic/egotistic to think you actually
remember what I preached 4 years ago!). Different times and situations call for different ministry strategies.
I have already shared with the deacons (and some others on a Wednesday evening) what you can expect from
me in the next few months. You can expect me to preach biblically-based messages that are designed to help with
some healing while building a firm foundation for moving forward. You can expect me to be a little more laid back
I will NOT be introducing or suggesting major changes in the way things are done, nor will I be trying to shake
things up (at least in the short-term). These are days when we simply need to be called to remember the essence of
our faith and be reminded of the call of God upon our church and our individual lives.
That is why I have begun with 50 Days in the Word on Sunday mornings there is nothing more
foundational and fundamental to our faith than the Word of God. If all of us individually return to the Book as the
source of our strength, comfort, encouragement and faith, our church will heal and move forward to live the Gospel. I
pray that you have found this series to be helpful and inspirational. But always remember, you only believe the parts
of the Bible that you actually DO.
In late September I will begin a new series that will carry us through to Thanksgiving. I am calling this series
Good News about Grace. While the Bible is the foundation upon which our faith is built, the message of the entire
Bible is Gods plan for the redemption of mankind. That plan is built upon grace grace that sent Jesus to the cross to
die for our sins. You cannot understand the Christian life at all unless you understand grace. When you understand
grace you are going to feel closer to God. The more you understand grace the more you are going to be drawn to God,
the more you are going to love god and the more you are going to be grateful to God. This 10-week series will
examine all aspects of grace and how it manifests in our lives.
We have begun our second journey together as pastor and congregation. I have no idea how long this journey
will be or what we might encounter along the way. I do know, however, that together, as we study Gods Word and
depend on Him, we will move Salem Baptist Church forward to accomplish Gods plan.

Blessings,
Pastor Derald


Childrens Ministry
Diane Pine
Our Back to School Carnival went smoothly. Thank you church family for all your hard work. Sixteen
volunteers showed up for this event and we had 15 children attend. The highlight for me was seeing Sarah sitting with
a circle of kids sharing the Gospel while making witnessing bracelets.
I will be attending a childrens conference in October to learn new ways to reach families. Lets remain in our
first love-Jesus Christ. In Revelation, Christ speaks of spitting Laodicea out of His mouth because they are
lukewarm. Lets look for every opportunity to be on fire for God. May God bless you, your family and Salem Baptist
Church in the days to come.























































4 David Chism
10 Kristol Chism
11 Nancy Rogerson
16 Carl Barrow
25 Brian Rogerson
29 Tina Berry

1 Jerry and Barbara Gustin
15 James and Kaylee Sutphen
17 Terry and Jennifer Payne
28 Jim and Betty Leach

Youth Ministry
Cody Hudspeth

Make sure that you do not reject the One who speaks. For if they did not escape when they
rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from
heaven.-Hebrews 12:25 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
We have reached that point in the year were sleeping in is replaced with 8oclock in the morning classes. Be
in prayer for our teenagers and school workers as they transition back into the school schedule.
On Wednesday, September 24
th
students across the nation will gather for the 2014 See You at the Pole rally.
This is a time where students will gather at the flagpole at their schools an hour before their first class starts and
spend the time in prayer and worship. They pray for their schools, community, nation, and leaders. Since this event
is entirely student led there are no laws being broken.
The week of September 21
st
through September 27
th
is the global week of student prayer.



Sunday School
Brian Rogerson
Then the devil took [Jesus] into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to
Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING
YOU; and ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.
Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written, YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.
Matthew 4:57 (NASB)

I think this is a familiar passage to most of us. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where he fasted
forty days and nights, and then Satan tempted Him in three ways. Here, he tempted Jesus to take the easy way out:
Were He to jump from the top of the temple, everyone would see the miracle of Him making a gentle descent, not
suffering a scratch. Wouldnt that be much easier than the whole ordeal of the cross that lay ahead of Him? Satan
even had Scripture to back him upbut Jesus countered with Scripture of His own.
Well, again, the application for us is that Satan will try to twist Scripture for his own ends, and we need to
know Gods Word well enough not to be deceived by his attempts. But we can learn that by studying the Word on
our own. What does this have to do with group Bible study?
The Lord tells us in Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can
understand it? Is it not possible that we will try to twist Scripture ourselves? I dont mean the way Satan did, with
intent. But sometimes, wouldnt it be easier if we avoided a particularly troublesome passage, or if we tried to read in
our own interpretation?
If we study together, we can discuss the Scripture together. We can ask questions of each other. We can see
different perspectives that, individually, we would miss. So if you havent been attending Sunday School, why not
join us? You just might get a new perspective from someone elseand you just might be the new perspective that
someone else needs.